Well packer



July 24, 1951 R. c. BAKER 2,562,079

WELL PACKER Filed April 29, 1946 A pg 2.

i Av 13 INVENTOH REUEEN CI flax-2 a 326. (2 W iii .2 34

ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 1951 Reuben C. Baker, Qoalinga-,---,. Gal-if; Iassig'nor to' Baker Oil"Tools,.Inc., Vernn, .Calif.,-a' corporation of California Applicati0nA'pri1 29; 1946; Serial Nol 665811 This-invention relates to'well tools; and-more? particularly to'well packers'employedizin the ce: menting';v acidizi-ng; testing; washing, production; etc-. of oil and gas-wells.

It isian object of 'the' present invention tot provide -a'well vpacker morei economical Ltozmanufac ture: and capable: of' assembly; and: disassembly" with greater; facility.

A furtheriobject' of 'theeinvention is ?to:provid'e5 a? well: packerrf whose L-packing:: element 1 may be=v ea'sil'yfclamped' to. and". released from theipack ingamember; on" which .it :is mounted:

Still another ob'jectof' the invention'isi'totpr'oe" vide a :well Lpackeri'havin'g a? supporting: member? on i which: a plurality'i"of packing elements may bei mounted" inisuchifashion as to be individuallyclamped thereto and yet easily and. rapidly re leased whenldisassembly is desired;

This invention has other:Qbjectsthat WiH be come apparent from n a" consideration of the emb odiment'i shown 1 in the drawings accompanying and formin'g part of" the present specification; This lform' will now be described in detailrbut' it is to be understood that such detailed de scriptior'i is not tobe'taken' in a limitedsensei since the scope ofthe" invention is 'best defin'ed by the :claims appended-hereto.

Referring'to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a' longitudinal section through awell tool embodying the invention;

Figure 2'- is'a longitudinalsection on anen largedscale'of 'part' of the well tool;

Figure 3' is a cross-section taken along'th'e line3 -3 'in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is an exploded view of a lock nut" device forming part of the tool; and

' Ei'gure'5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section"; on an enlarged scale, of part of thetooL.

As disclosed' in the drawings; the well tool con=-- sists of abody suitably secured, as'b'y threading, tbthelower end-of a string-'of tubing' or'drill' ipzA'i b'y-means of which' the tool is conveyed through a'well casingB to the desired operat ing point. The body consists of anupp'er'body' memberr I0 a;lower"body*member Illa, an'dlan intermediate" body member I I connecting the upper and lower members togetherz'inispaced relation The: general type of-iwell' .packerr shown is-describedandclaimed in the patent application'of-Charles E. Costello, Serial 391, 548,,fi1ed. Mai "2, 1941, for Well Devices? now Patent No. $466,305.

The upper and lowerportions of theztooliare'r substantial duplicates, being connectedv to the? intermediate. body;member II in opposed rela (Cl. H 1664-11) 2. tion. A description? or; the iuppertportion'ishouldz suffice 'ffor the 'lower' portion as f well;

The: upper body: member: I urrinclu'des "an elonl-e gate mandrel or." nipple I2 having; asub I3? screwed on iitsiupper'end and zlower ported sub: I4 secured toi-itsilower'zendi. Onezor' morerpacke ing-fcups' I5, I6; ll-ofi rubber'forzisimilar material. are-secured on thermandrel-rwitl r: thezlowerrcups: I5; I6:facing xdownwardlyi Theserpacking cups' are adapted for slidable sealingqengagementiwitli" the wall 10f the-wellscasin'g :jBitoi-preventupward flow of fluidbetweentheeupper bodym'embert lflli and'the casing;-

An :upper' by-pass tube. I81- iszpositi'oned within:

" theyupper bodyj, member: lllstoxprovide anlannu byga' suitable packing. nut-24 to prevent dew-n As stated above, the constructionof the-=1ower5 tool portion issubstantially; the same as the? 1 upper," with the partsfacing in theopposite di-s" rection; preventing; fluid passage between the? lower bodymember Iflaand casing; wal1.;in a2 downward: direction; Upward flow of. fluidz' throughth'e lower annulus I 9:; beyond thev flange? 22.a -ist revented by the flange 22a,ppackingv23a 1 member isvsecured to-theupper and IOWGTSllbSi I 4;- I 4a, andlmay, be made: of :any length': desired, dependin upon the spacing required betweenth'ew upper" and lower 'packing rcupsi I 5-,: a I 5a. The bye pass around the -packingsw-extends-fromra pointoutside. the tool below the lower packingi Ila to avpoint outside the tool abovetheiupper packing- II. More'specifically, this by-pass passage is constituted by the lower I T 20a; ,lower 'byl-pass 1 tube: I8a, intermediate :body member ll,vupperx by-pass-tuber I8, and .uppenby-pass Tr 20.

The upper sub It is provided with one or more upper outlets or ports 25 adjacent the packing cup I5, and the lower sub Ma is similarly provided with one or more lower outlets or ports 25a adjacent the lower packing cup I'5a. Fluid cannot pass directly from the upper body annulus I9 to the lower body annulus ISa, because of the flanges 22, 22a and packings 23, 23a around the by-pass tubes !8, I800, but must pursue an indirect course. The fluid is pumped downwardly through the tubing A, into the upper body member annulus I9, exiting through the upper ports 25 into the localized annular zone 26 defined by the upper and lower packings I5, I a, and by the intermediate body member i I and casing 13. This fluid may flow downwardly through this zone and enter the lower body member I0a through the lower ports 25a, where the fluid can pass downwardly through the annulus I9a around the lower by-pass tube Isa and into a valve body or housing 2'! screwed into the lower end of the lower sub l3a. The fluid may then pass through the valve outlets or ports 28 in the housing to the exterior of the tool below the lower packing cup I'Ia, from where it may flow upwardly into the lower by-pass T 28a, through the lower bypass tube IBa, intermediate by-pass body member II, upper by-pass tube I8, and upper by-pass T 20, into the tubing-casing annulus 2! above the upper packing cup IT.

The allowing of the fluid to pursue the course just described is dependent upon control of the flow of fluid through the valve ports 28 at the lower end of the tool. Such control is obtained through a valve mechanism including a valve stem 29 projecting upwardly into the housing 27 and adapted to engage a ball valve as capable of moving downwardly to engage a seat 3I suit ably secured to the housing and positioned above the housing ports 28. The stem 23 exteriorly of and below the housing carries a suitable drag or friction device 32 adapted to engage the walls of the casing 13 and resist movement of the valve stem therewithin. When the valve stem 23 is in the lower position, shown in Figure 1, it is free from engagement with the ball valve 30. which may rest upon its seat 3i and prevent downward passage of fluid through the lower body Ida. Relative elevation of the valve stem with respect to the housing, as by lowering the connected body members III, II, Ida and housing 21 several inches, causes the upper end of the valve stem 29 to engage the ball 38 and lift it from the seat 3|, permitting downward passage of fluid from the lower body 50a, through the valve seat 3| and valve ports 28 to the exterior of the tool.

The positions of the ball valve 35 with respect to-its seat are determined by a lock device, which in the present instance includes a lock pin 33 secured to the valve stem and engaging in a lock slot 34 of inverted J or L form. When the valve stem is moved relatively upward within the valve housing the lock pin33 may be positioned in the upper horizontal portion of the slot 3:1 to hold the ball valve 30 off its seat. Relative lowering of the valve stem as permitted by placement of the lock pin 33 in the longitudinal slot portion, removes the stem from the ball valve 38 and allows the latter to engage its seat 3 I.

The tool described has a variety of uses. It

may be disposed on opposite sides of casing per-- forations C, and cement slurry pumped down through the tubular string A into the upper body member ID and out through the upper ports 25 into the localized zone 26 between the opposed packing cups I5, I5a from where the cement slurry passes through the casing perforations C to cement the casing B in place. Displacement of cement through the perforations will occur upon elevation of the tubing string A and tool body ID, II, Illa, 2'! several inches to remove the valve stem 29 from engagement with the ball 30 and allow the latter to contact its seat 3|, thus closing the annular passage I9a through the lower body member IIla.

After the required amount of cement slurry has been forced through the casing perforations, any excess can be removed from the tubing, tool and well casing by lowering the tool several inches to cause the valve stem 29 to elevate the ball 30 from its seat 3 I, which permits the excess slurry to flow downwardly from the tubing A through the upper body annulus I9 and port 25 into the localized zone 26 between the packing cups I5, I5a, thence flowing through the lower port 25a into the lower body annulus IQa, and around the check valve 30 and through the valve ports 28 to the exterior of the tool below the lower packing member I'la, from where the circulating fluid and cement slurry passes into the lower by-pass T 20a and up through the lower by-pass tube I8a, spacer pipe I I, upper by-pass tube I8 and upper by-pass T 20 into the tubing casing annulus 2| above the upper packer I'I. If desired, the excess cement slurry may be circulated from the well bore by reversing the direction of flow described, that is, by initially pumping down through the tubingoasing annulus 2I, through the tool and up through the tubing to the top of the well bore.

The well packer is constructed in such manner as to be economical to produce, assemble, dismantle and maintain. Each body member may include a single nipple I2 on which each cluster of packing cups is clamped.

Each nipple I2 is provided with threaded ends 35, 36 for coupling to the upper by-pass sub I3 and lower sub I4, and also with intermediate threaded portions 3'1, 38 to receive clamping devices 39, 4E! holding the packing members I5, I6 securely on the nipple or body member. The threaded sections on the nipple are all cut into its exterior surface, so that the major diameter P of the threads is no greater than the diameter R of the external cylindrical surface 4| of the nipple. In other words, the threads 31, 38 are cut into the cylindrical exterior of the nipple. If three packing cups are used on each nipple, as shown in the drawings, the lower packing cup is is clamped between an abutting spacer sleeve 42 engaging the lower sub I4 and a cup-shaped thimole 43. A split or segmental clamp nut 44, 44 is placed on the threaded section 57 of the nipple and is prevented from lateral movement by a collar 45 having an internal tapered surface 46 cooperating with corresponding external tapered surfaces 47 on the segmental nut. The collar also has downwardly extending keys or ribs 48 projecting inwardly between the opposed ends 49, 49 of the nut segments 44, 44.

The intermediate packing cup I6 is clamped between a second spacer sleeve 50, whose lower end engages the lower collar 45, and a second cup-shaped thilmble 5I, which is engaged by a second segmental clamp nut 52 and collar 53 constructed in the same manner as the segmental nut 44, M and collar 45 described above. This segmental nut 52 is threaded on the second intermediate threaded portion 38 of the nipple. The

third packer cup I! is clamped between a lower cup-shaped thimble 54, engaging the second collar' 53., and a spacer sleeve 55, whose upper end engages a solid lock nut56 threaded on the upper threaded portion 35 of the nipple.

The packing assembly just described may be rapidly and easily mounted on the nipple 12 in severalways, one of which will now be described. The nipple is first threaded tightly into the lower sub i4 and the first spacer sleeve 42 then slid over the upper end 35 of the nipple and into engagemeritv with the lower sub i4. The lower packing cup 45 and thimble 43 may then be similarly moved over the nipple to its lower region, immediately below the threaded portion v3'1. The two halves 44, 44 of the segmental nut are then placed directly over the lower intermediate threaded portion 37 of the nipple with their threads. properlyengaging the nipple threads, and the lower collar 45 then placed over the upper end 35 of the nipple and over the segmental nuts 44, 44 with the-keys 48., 48 positioned between their. opposed ends 49., 49. The second set of elements, including the spacer sleeve 50, .tntermediate packing cup [6, thimble 5 [,scgmental nut 52 .and collar 53 are then similarly placed on the nipple, followed by the upper thimble .54, up-.

per cup I1 and spacer sleeve 55. The solid lock nut 56 is then threaded on the upper nipple portion 35.

With all of the parts thus mounted in their approximate final positionson the nipple, the lower collar 45 is turned to screw the segmental nut 44, 44 on the threaded nipple portion 31 toward the lower sub 14, and thus clamp the lower packing [5 firmly between the spacer sleeve 4.2 and thimble 43. The screw threading described is transmitted from a suitable wrench (not shown) placed on the exterior ofthe collar 45, through the. keys, 48, 48 to the segments 44, 44., turning thesegments and causingthem to advance to.- wards.,.the lower sub 14 on the nipple threads.

When the lower packing l5 has thus been firmly clamped on the nipple, the intermediate packing I6 is similarly clamped in place by applying a wrench to the upper collar 53 and turning it in the proper direction to thread its cooperative seg mental nut 52 along the upper intermediate threaded nipple portion 38 and toward the lower segmental nut 44, 44, until the intermediate cup 16 is firmly clamped in place. Thereafter, the wrench is applied to the solid nut 55 and the upper packing cup i'l clamped in place by advancing the nut 56 toward the upper segmental nut 52. and collar 53.

The-by-pass tube I8 may now be threaded in the by-pass T 2b, which has already been welded to the by-pass sub 1.3. This sub assembly may now'be placed into and over the .nipple l2, with the tube 18 passing into and through the center hole in the lower sub flange 22 and the by-pa-ss sub l3 threaded on the upper end 35 of the nipple. The packing 23 is then placed around the by-pass tube 18 and firmly clamped in place by the packing nut 24.

The lower portion of the tool is assembledin a similar manner and the two major halves of the tool then secured to one another by the spacer pipe I i, forming a part of the by-pass. The valve assembly 2'|--33 may then be threaded into the lower end of the lower by-pass sub l3a.

In order to mate properly with the threads 31, cut into the exterior of the nipple, the two halves 44, .44 of each segmental nut must function cooperatively with one another as a single nut. To produce this result, the threads on one segment are a continuation of the threads on the other segment. One. manner of achieving thread continuity is to first form the segmental nut as a single member and cut the threads in its, interior. Thereafter, the single member is severed in two parts, as with a milling cutter, which insures practical continuity of the threads from one segment flowing properly into the thread in the other segment. 7

It. is to be noted that the cooperative tapered surfaces 41, 46 on the two part segmental clamp nut44, 44 and companion lockcollar 4.5 diverge in thedirection in which the nut is threaded on the nipple to efiect clamping of the pack-ing l5 between the thimble 43 and spacer sleeve42. 'As above stated, .a suitable wrench placed on the exterior .of the collar 45 will cause its turning effort to be transmitted to the split or segmental nut 44, 44 through the keys 48, 48., and feed the nut along the nipple threads 31 to effect clamp-1 ing of the packing cup on the nipple or body member l2. Engagement of the adjacent spacer sleeve 50 with the collar 45 will prevent its looseness and will cause it to exert a wedging action on the split nuts 44, 44, holding them inwardly in firm cooperative engagement with the. nipple threads 31. Similarly, engagement of the uppermost thimble 54 with the upper collar53 holds it in firm wedging engagement with the u per segmental nut 5'2 to insure against looseness of the assembly. I

shown in the drawings, there is very little difference in the length between each segmental nut and its companion collar. Actually the collar need only extend longitudinally a slight-dis tance beyond the smaller end of the nut '(a sixtyfourth of an inch will do) for engagement by the spacer sleeve or thimble and to be urged snugly into wedged contact with the segmental nut.

By virtue of the tool described, the lower body assembly is the same as the upper body assembly, which makes the two assemblies interchangeable. Each packing is individually clamped on the mandrel, offering greater assurance against their becoming loose, or leakage occurring between the packing cup and the-nipple during operation of the tool. Moreover, the parts may be very quickly assembled in place, since it is not necessary to thread the entire exterior of the nipple, as in prior art devices, and then screw solid clamp nuts along the whole length of the nipple into its proper clamping position against the packing cup thimble, which is a time consuming and'tedious operation, especially when the length of the nipple is considered. Not only are savings in time-thus effected, but additional savings '-:in manufacturing costs achieved through obviating the need for threading the entire exterior of the nipple. All that need be done is to select a nipple with'a continuous cylindrical exterior of proper diameter and then thread this exterior at one or more spaced points, as desired.

Disassembly of the tool in easily effected by reversing the assembly procedure outlined above; Of course, the packing cups I 5, I6, I! may also be disassembled by first removing the lower sub [4 from the nipple [2, which would then permit the spacer sleeve 42, cups, thimbles and collars to be moved downwardly oil the nipple. In disassembly, after the lower sub I4 has been removed or loosened, the upper solid lock nut 56 may be backedaway from the upper sleeve 55, which will then permit the upper collar 53 tobe similarly backed away out of clamping relation with its companion segmental lock nut-52 and these latter parts removed" laterally from the mandrel l2.

The intermediate thimble 5|, packing cup I6 and sleeve 53 may then be backed away from the lower collar 45 and segmental nut 44, 44, permitting the collar 45 to be moved back from the lower segmental nut 44, 44 and the two halves of the latter also removed laterally from the mandrel. The collars 45, 53, thimbles 43, 51, 54, spacer sleeves 42, 5D, 55, and packing cups l5, l6, H are now loose on the nipple and may be removed therefrom in a downward direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, and means engageable with the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion.

2. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a split nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, and means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion.

3. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packin structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said lastmentioned means having an inwardly directed projection disposed between adjacent ends of the segments of said nut.

4. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a split nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said lastmentioned means having an inwardly directed projection disposed between adjacent ends of said split nut.

5. A packing assembly, including a cylindrical body member having an exteriorly threaded portion whose major diameter is no greater than the diameter of an adjacent unthreaded portion of said cylindrical body member, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engagin said packing structure on one side thereof a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, and means engaging the exterior of said nut to prevent its lateral removal from said threaded portion.

6 A packing assembly, including a cylindrical body member having an exteriorly threaded portion whose major diameter is no greater than the diameter of an adjacent unthreaded portion of said cylindrical body member, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a seg-' mental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said lastmentioned means having an inwardly directed projection disposed between adjacent ends of the segments of said nut.

7. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof,

a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, said nut having a frusto-conical external surface, and means having a companion frustoconical inner surface in engagement with the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion.

8. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, said nut having a frusto-conical external surface, means having a companion frustoconical inner surface in engagement with the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said last-mentioned means having inwardly directed projections disposed between adjacent ends of the segments of said nut.

9. A packing assembly, including a cylindrical body member having an exteriorly threaded portion whose major diameter is no greater than the diameter of unthreaded portions of said cylindrical body member on both sides thereof, 'a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one 1 side thereof, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, said nut having a frustoconical external surface, means having a companion frusto-conical inner surface in engage-- ment with the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said lastmentioned means having inwardly directed projections disposed between adjacent ends of said nut.

10. A packing assembly, including a cylindrical body member having an exteriorly threaded portion whose major diameter is no greater than the diameter of unthreaded portions of said cylindrical body member on both sides thereof, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a segmental nut,on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, said nut having a frustoconical external surface, a collar having a companion frusto-conical inner surface in engagement with the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, said collar having inwardly directed projections disposed be-' tween adjacent ends of said nut, one of said means engaging said collar to hold said frustoconical surfaces in engagement with one another.

11. A well packer assembly, including a cylindrical body member having longitudinally spaced exteriorly threaded portions whose major diameters are no greater than the diameters of unthreaded portions of said cylindrical body member on both sides thereof, a first packing structure on said body member, a first abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a first segmental nut on one of said threaded portions engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded por- 9 tion, a second packing structure on said body member, a second abutment means engaging said encompassing means and also engaging said second packing means on one side thereofja second segmental nut on said other threaded portion engaging said second packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said second nut to prevent its removal from said second threaded portion, and means engageable with said last-mentioned means to hold said second segmental nut firmly on said second threaded portion.

12. A well packer assembly, including a cylindrical body member having an exteriorly threaded portion whose major diameter is no greater than the diameter of unthreaded portions of said cylindrical body member on both sides thereof, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, a second packing structure on said body member engaging said encompassing means, and means engaging said second packing structure to clamp the same against said encompassing means.

13. A packing assembly, including a body, a packing structure on said body, a member engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, said body having a threaded portion on the other side of said packing structure and an adjacent unthreaded portion, the major diameter of said threaded portion being no greater than the diameter of said unthreaded portion, an abutment structure on said unthreaded portion, a segmental nut on said threaded portion engageable with one of said structures, and means engageable with the other of said structures and disposed over the exterior of said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion.

14. A packing assembly, including a body, a packing structure on said body, a member engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, 4

said body having a threaded portion on the other side of said packing structure and an adjacent unthreaded portion, the major diameter of said threaded portion being no greater than the diameter of said unthreaded portion, an abutment structure on said unthreaded portion, a nut comprising a plurality of separate segments on said threaded portion engageable with one of said structures, said nut having a frusto-conical external surface, and means engageable with the other of said structures and having a companion frusto-conical inner surface in engagement with the exterior of said nut segments to prevent lateral removal of said segments from said threaded portion.

15. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side there of, a split nut on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, means encompassing said nut to prevent its removal from said threaded portion, and means on said body member for preventing removal of said encompassing means from said nut.

16. A packing assembly, including a body member having a threaded portion, a packing structure on said body member, abutment means engaging said packing structure on one side thereof, a nut comprising a plurality of separate segments on said threaded portion engaging said packing structure on the other side thereof, said nut having a frusto-conical external surface, securing means having a companion frusto-conical inner surface in engagement with the exterior of said nut segments to prevent lateral removal of said nut segments from said threaded portion, and means on said body member for holding said securing means in engagement with said nut segments.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,515 Yarbrough Sept. 29, 1936 2,388,270 Lord Nov. 6, 1945 

